History Creator / Terrytoons

In 1999, there was an attempt to revive the Terrytoons characters at Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}--''WesternAnimation/{{Curbside}}'' was a pilot for a proposed animated series which parodied the talk-show genre starring WesternAnimation/HeckleAndJeckle as the hosts with Dinky Duck as co-host. Due to the fact that it has never seen the light of television, its evidence of existence can only be attributed in an animation highlight right [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0iSafDyjOI here]], but the finished project has been uploaded on Website/YouTube (as an unlisted video) in 2012 which can be viewed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQZ-uu93p00 here]].

Now has a [[Characters/TerryToons Character Sheet.]]

* LongRunner: Despite the low budgets, total reliance on formula, and rushed animation, the Terrytoons enjoyed a ''very'' long, healthy lifespan, lasting from 1929 all the way up to 1968, where they were finally forced to close up shop on account of theatrical cartoons becoming all but completely unprofitable by that point--only the Creator/WalterLantz and Creator/DePatieFrelengEnterprise was able to outlast Terrytoons with their shorts. And even that wasn't enough to kill them--the Terrytoons enjoyed an equally healthy lifespan on TV for decades, with Mighty Mouse Playhouse pioneering the concept of [[AnimatedAnthology recycling old theatrical cartoons for reairing on TV.]]

* LongRunner: Despite the low budgets, total reliance on formula, and rushed animation, the Terrytoons enjoyed a ''very'' long, healthy lifespan, lasting from 1929 all the way up to 1968, where they were finally forced to close up shop on account of theatrical cartoons becoming all but completely unprofitable by that point--only the Creator/WalterLantz cartoon studio was able to outlast Terrytoons with their shorts, by four measly years. And even that wasn't enough to kill them--the Terrytoons enjoyed an equally healthy lifespan on TV for decades, with Mighty Mouse Playhouse pioneering the concept of [[AnimatedAnthology recycling old theatrical cartoons for reairing on TV.]]

* "[[WesternAnimation/FooflesTrainRide Foofle's Train Ride]]" (1959)

* "WesternAnimation/FooflesTrainRide Foofle's Train Ride" (1959)

*
"WesternAnimation/FooflesTrainRide" (1959)

* CinderellaCircumstances: Sad Cat is forced to slave for his two mean brothers, Latimore and Fenimore.

One of the more obscure yet prolific studios from UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation, Terrytoons was an animation studio with a close relationship with Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox, who handled distribution of the cartoons throughout much of its history[[note]]Fox and Creator/{{RKO Pictures}} were the only studios in Hollywood who did not have in-house cartoon departments, relying solely on the third-party Terrytoons and Creator/{{Disney}}, respectively, to fill the holes[[/note]]. It was founded by former Creator/{{Van Beuren|Studios}} employee Paul Terry. It produced classic cartoon serials such as WesternAnimation/MightyMouse and WesternAnimation/HeckleAndJeckle.

** The Gene Deitch {{retool}} is perhaps the ultimate example. Suddenly, what were once the worst cartoons on the market became the most artistic and innovative. Sadly, it was TooGoodToLast, and once Deitch left the studio once again sank into mediocrity.

Terry himself didn't care how these cartoons were drawn or animated as long as the animators met their quota. There were and are many, many cartoons from this studio, but most of them (even the good ones) haven't gotten much airtime since the end of UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation.

* MeaningfulName: Mighty Mouse, who name matches his prowess, Heckle the Magpie, who is unmistakably [[ScrewySquirrel a heckler]] (although it's not clear if the same applies to Jeckle the Magpie), and Sourpuss, a grumpy, cantankerous feline. Subverted with Gandy, whose name ironically contrasts his childish personality.

* YankTheDogsChain: The Sad Cat cartoons directed by RalphBashki - every time it looks like Sad Cat is going to get a happy ending, he ends up in a worse situation than before. Luckily, when Bashki left Terrytoons, this trope was averted.

* OffModel: Terrytoons turned this into an art form, especially when Jim Tyer was at the studio. The characters rarely stayed consistent in appearance and movement. Fortunately, [[TropesAreNotBad this ends up adding to the eccentric, fun nature of the cartoons.]]

Animation historians and modern animators (with occasional exceptions like Creator/LeonardMaltin and Creator/JohnKricfalusi) are hostile towards this studio and its output, writing off these cartoons as cheaply produced garbage only worth a footnote in their books. This is HilariousInHindsight because Paul Terry was considered the ''Dean of Animation'' in the 20's and 30's period of animation; even ''Creator/WaltDisney'' looked up to him and hoped to make cartoons as good and funny as his. Also, thanks to an online resurgance of the cartoons, not only on youtube but many classic animation blogs and websites, the cartoons are slowly gaining a loyal fan following, particularly among modern animators.

* ShoutOut: The name of the short "Busted Blossoms" is a reference to the D.W. Griffith film ''Broken Blossoms''.